A study from Georgia State University has found that using marijuana could increase the risk of dying from high blood pressure by more than three times.
This research looked at adults aged 20 and older to explore the link between marijuana use and deaths related to hypertension (high blood pressure).
The study began in 2005-2006, when participants were asked whether they had ever used marijuana. If they answered “yes,” they were counted as marijuana users.
They also shared the age when they first tried the drug. From that, the researchers calculated how many years they had been using marijuana by subtracting the age they started from their current age.
Later, in 2011, the researchers used data from the National Center for Health Statistics to check how many participants had died and what the causes were, especially focusing on deaths related to high blood pressure.
There were 1,213 people in the study, and their marijuana and cigarette use varied. About 34% of them didn’t use either marijuana or cigarettes.
Around 21% used only marijuana, 20% used both marijuana and cigarettes, 16% used marijuana and used to smoke, 5% were former smokers only, and 4% only smoked cigarettes. On average, people who used marijuana had been using it for about 11.5 years.
The results showed that marijuana users were more than three times as likely to die from high blood pressure as those who never used it. Even more striking, the researchers found that the risk of death from high blood pressure increased slightly with each additional year of marijuana use.
The study suggests that this increased risk may be related to how marijuana affects the heart and blood vessels. When people use marijuana, it can activate the body’s sympathetic nervous system.
This leads to a faster heartbeat, higher blood pressure, and a greater demand for oxygen by the heart. Emergency rooms have reported cases of chest pain and even heart attacks shortly after marijuana use.
The researchers also pointed out that the heart risks from marijuana could be more serious than those linked to cigarette smoking, which is already known to harm the heart.
This study highlights the importance of being careful with marijuana use, especially for people who already have high blood pressure or other heart-related conditions. While marijuana is becoming more commonly used for both medical and recreational purposes, it’s important to be aware of how it might affect heart health.
The study, led by Barbara A. Yankey, was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. It adds to growing research showing that marijuana use may have health risks that people should take seriously.
Other studies have shown that some foods and substances can also affect blood pressure. For example, black licorice has been found to raise blood pressure to dangerous levels. On the other hand, certain nutrients from plant-based foods may help lower it.
As scientists continue to study the effects of marijuana, especially on the heart, many experts suggest caution—particularly for people already at risk of heart disease.
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